Even as Jamaicans hail gradual economic stabilisation of the economy and growth in recent times, it’s useful for them to recognise the impact of factors largely beyond their control.

Take, for example, the reports of dramatic growth in agricultural production. People don’t need experts to tell them that this is largely the result of plentiful rainfall across Jamaica so far in 2016.

This is in sharp contrast to recent years when declines in agriculture occurred in the context of intense, islandwide drought.

Of course, the threat posed by rain is also ever present. We are still not clear regarding the overall effect on agriculture in north-eastern Jamaica as a result of recent floods. What’s clear is that for many people, and indeed entire communities in that part of the country, damage has been life-changing.

So that when Government and economic planners project, they must also bear in mind the consequences of such unforeseen consequences as weather.

All that said, this newspaper joins in applauding the Government for its commitment to continue the fiscal discipline so strictly adhered to by its predecessor.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and leading economists are agreed that strict tax collection and expenditure discipline, as well as a strong push to make governance, economic and business structures more efficient and streamlined are key to sustained growth of the national economy.

Crucially, all are agreed that crime must be brought under control.

However, there is another aspect that can’t be ignored. We refer to the need to ‘balance people’s lives’, an expression made popular in the political lexicon of recent years.

It’s all well and good for the IMF, economists and others to argue the dire need for the country to live within its means, reduce Government spending, cut the size of the public sector, and at another level, for increased efficiencies such as the mechanisation of agriculture.

But it must also be recognised that, as an immediate consequence, hopefully only in the short term, such actions lead to loss of jobs and added impoverishment for many.

Of course, politicians are well aware. Many Comrades argue for instance that the People’s National Party would still be in Government had it not been for strict adherence to expenditure discipline ahead of the parliamentary elections in February.

The ambitions of politicians apart, the plight of the people at the socio-economic base must be at the forefront as Government and their economic advisers, including the IMF, set about transforming the economy.

As part of the effort to uplift those at the base in a new economic dispensation, economist Mr Dennis Chung speaks of how important it is for people to be trained for higher-value jobs.

“We have to start training people, because if we get growth and people are not trained, then they’re not going to benefit from it, because you can’t get more value than what you produce,” says Mr Chung.

All true. The trouble is that none of that happens overnight. Training takes time and, sadly, some displaced people will simply give up. In the meantime families must eat, survive and send their children to school.

Going forward, the Government will have to tread cautiously, carefully, ‘between the rain drops’, in the drive to modernise and transform without unbalancing people’s lives.